Among the following, who is given the credit of carrying Jainism in South Indian?

Bhadrabahu is traditionally credited with carrying Jainism to South India. According to Jaina tradition, a severe famine occurred in Magadha about 200 years after Mahavira's death (or roughly 4th century BCE), leading Bhadrabahu to migrate south to Karnataka with a group of monks to maintain strict discipline [c1, t2]. He was accompanied by the Mauryan Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, who eventually settled at Shravanabelagola [t2, t3]. This migration led to the establishment of the Digambara sect in the south, characterized by their adherence to nudity and strict asceticism, while those who remained in the north under Sthulabhadra became the Svetambaras [c1]. Bhadrabahu's role is central to the narrative of Jainism's early dissemination into the Deccan and Tamil regions, where Jaina influence later became prominent in early literature and rock-cut architecture [c2, t5].

Sources

1. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Life of Mahavira > p. 39
2. [2] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Jainism in Tamilnadu > p. 40